Hard at work: Safawi Rasid (right) goes for a header during a training session at the Education City Training Facility in Doha, Qatar. — FAM
PETALING JAYA: The Harimau Malaya boys will be facing a few familiar opponents in the Asian Cup challenge but wingers Safawi Rasid and Faisal Halim want to treat them all like new foes.
World No. 130 Malaysia are in Group E with Jordan (87), Bahrain (86) and South Korea (23) and will face Jordan in the opening match at the Al-Janoub Stadium on Jan 15.
Malaysia know a thing or two about all the teams having faced them in the past. In fact, some of the players from the opposing camp had played in the Super League.
In their second Group E match at the 2018 Asian Games encounter, Malaysian winger Safawi scored a double in the fifth and 45th minute to sink South Korea 2-1, which was one of the shocks of the tournament.
The likes of winger Akhyar Rashid and wingback Syahmi Safari, both in the current Asian Cup squad, played in that game too while Asian Cup-bound Dominic Tan was on the bench in that match.
The 25-year-old Safawi remembers that game well, but said times had changed and the players they had played against had improved a lot.
“The Koreans are doing well internationally in recent years. You can see their performances during friendlies and even World Cups.
“If given the chance to play, for sure, I want to do my best,” he said.
“There is nothing better than showcasing our abilities against a side that are ranked below 25 in the world.
“It’s a chance for all of us to create a name.
“We have to follow the coach’s (Kim Pan-gon) tactics and formation. We want something positive.”
They should not overlook the Jordanians too as two midfielders – Selangor’s Noor Al-Rawab–deh and Police’s Fadi Awad – will represent their nation.
Al-Rawabdeh has been a key figure for the Red Giants thanks to his swashbuckling displays as a deep-lying playmaker while Awad is the reason why the Cops finished eighth in the league thanks to his powerful displays as a defensive midfielder.
Then there are two former Super League players, Yazan Al-Arab of Selangor and Mahmoud Al-Mardi of Kedah, also in the 26-men squad selected by Moroccan coach Houcine Ammouta.
Faisal knows Al-Arab and Al-Rawabdeh well and had even joked about their upcoming clash during training sessions.
“We told them that we were going after their scalps but we will remain good friends after that,” said Faisal.
Faisal believes Malaysia have what it takes to dethrone some of the higher-ranked teams in the group, including Jordan.
“We want to take the first game first, and make sure to get at least a draw to raise the team morale.”
Meanwhile, Bahrain will have the services of Kedah midfielder Moses Atede, who is a naturalised Nigerian, known for his superb energy and work rate in midfield.
If the boys can silence these players, then Malaysia might have a chance of having a good campaign in Doha, Qatar.
